Periodically acting spark generating toy



Aug. 31, 1937. G. Elm-ALT` 2,091,914,

PERIODICALLY ACTING SPARK GENERATING TOY Filed May 25, 1937 G50/e6E/NFALT UNi'iED STATES TENT GEFICE PERIODICALLY ACTING: SPARK GENERAT-ING TOY Georg Einfalt, Nuremberg, Germany, assignor to TransatlanticFactors, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationMay 25, 1937, Serial No. 144,629 In Germany December 2, 1935 15 Claims.(Cl. 46-10) This invention relates to a periodically acting providedwith spur-wheels mby means of which spark generating device for use inconnection the device can be moved. In order to hold the with toys. Theprimary object is to generally device in proper position (for instancelike a improve such devices. A more specific object is gun), there isattached to the rear end of the to produce an approximately disk-shapedsparkcasing b a ball-shaped member n. which may have, 5 shear" locatedabout perpendicularly withA respect however, any other shape.

to the axis of a piece of cerium-iron stone and The upper crown-wheel hengages a pinion p a spark producing member co-operating theresecured toarodowhich will be termed the sparkwith. rod in the further course ofthis specification.

The object in View is attained chiefly thereby The spark-rod extendsbeyond the frame and the lo that the end of a spark-rod or the like ispressed casing in a direction opposite to the part holding against saidcerium-iron stone by means of a the supporting member n. and issupported in helical spring or the like, the said stone being brackets qand r extending upwardly from said arranged co-axially with said rod,which is periframe. From the bracket r extends forwardly a odicallyquickly rotated, the resulting friction tube s which surrounds thecorresponding part l5 causing thc-:production of a spark-sheaf locatedof the spark rod and is closed at its free front about perpendicularlyrelatively to the axis of end by a small disk t. (Figs. l and 3.) Nea-rthe said rod and the said stone of cerium-iron. this disk the tube s isprovided with a plurality Other characteristic features of the inventionwill of apertures u located just at the end of the spark be dealt within the following part oi this specirod o. This end is cut away orrecessed at v 2@ cation in connection with the drawing which (Fig. 3),the recesses transforming said end into shows diagrammatically and byway of example a sort of a chisel or fork having an edge or two aconstructional form of a device designed acpointed spikes, and thesespikes are located near cording to this invention.' In the drawing: Ythe end of the tube s (Figs. l and 3). The spikes Figure 1 is aside-view of the device used in can be pressed against said piece wbymeans of 25 connection with a toy-wheelwork; a helical pull spring :I:encompassing the spark- Figure 2 is a plan view of the arrangement androdand being located between the bracket r and combination of partsshown in Fig. 1; the pinion p. When the spark-rod is abruptly Figure 3shows the left-hand end of Fig. 2 rotated by means of the wheel-work thespikes o partly in axial section and drawn to an enlarged rub on thecerium-iron and sparks are generated 30 scale; which then pass outwardsthrough the apertures Figure e shows members located right-hand u. Theleft-hand end of the spring is affixed from Fig. 3, likewise drawn to anenlarged scale, to the bracket r and the other end is connected thesemembers being located above the wheelwith the spark-rod near the pinionp by particwork visible in Fig. 1. ularly small-diameter windings; theinner diam- 35 The wheel-work is held in a frame a which is eter of themain portion of the spring is someenclosed in a casing b that is soshaped as to t what larger than the outer diameter of the sparkinto thebottom-portion of a iigure or a vehicle rod so that no jamming frictioncan arise beor the like. c denotes the spring of the` wheeltween thesetwo members, the only contact being work and d the axle or winding stemof the same. at the part y where the spring is wound directly The axleprojects downwardly beyond the spring, around and in irictional contactwith the rod. where a key may be applied to the squared end so When thespring of the wheel-work has been that the wheel-work can be wound up,and above wound up, the cog-wheel e will rotate the pinion f the springthere is affixed to said axle a cog-wheel and this will turn thecrown-wheels h` and i, the e meshing with a pinion f secured to avertical teeth of which are arranged out of step, prefintermediate shaftg. The upper end and the erably on diametrically opposite sides, asappears lower end of this shaft respectively project above from Fig. l.The lower crown-wheel will transand below the adjacent parts of theframe, and mit the motion to the running wheels m by the to the upperend is aflixed a crown-wheel h, and intermediary of the members i, lc, Zwhereby the 50 to the lower end a crown wheel i. These crown device willbe moved as long as the wheels and wheels are mutilated, each havingteeth only on lc mesh with one another, say, for half of each a part ofthe circumference, as appears distinctly revolution. The uppercrown-wheel (h) rotates fromFig. l. The teeth of the lower crown-wheelthe pinion p which now turns the spark-rod or, i-can mesh with a pinion7c which is secured to the spikes or chisel edge of which rub on the 55an axle l constituting a running axle, and being cerium-iron piece wl.The normal smooth forward movement of the rod does not produce a showerof sparks, but upon abrupt movements there is generated the sparks whichrush outwardly through the apertures u forming in their entirety aspark-shear, as indicated at the lefthand end of Fig. l.

The action of the spring :c is peculiar. When the spark rod o is turnedby the members h and p while the device is being moved forwardly by therunning wheels m etc., the convolutions of the spring are wound up andcontracted, viz., radially long as the gears are in mesh and the sparkrod is running forwardly, but when the crown-wheel lz gets out of meshwith the pinion p, the tension of the spring is relieved and spring a:abruptly unwinds, causing a sudden reverse rotation of the rod o. Thisproduces a shower of sparks. At the same time the crown-wheel i has leftthe pinion 7c, in consequence whereof the device comes to a standstilland remains so until these members (i and 7c) mesh again with oneanother. Then after the dwell in forward movement with the accompanyingflash of sparks during the dwell, the members h and pwill againoperation will be repeated, and so on.

The entire device may be housed, for instance, in the hollow gure of aseemingly creeping riflema'nwhoires his gun intermittently and creepsintermittently forwards. The creeping motion stops during the firingperiod. In order to make man rise and lower be the case. device in an Iclaim: i. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use inconnection with toys, comprising, in

slightly, as would in reality It is as Well possible to mount thearmored motor-car or the like.

rotating the Said rod. 2. A periodically acting spark-producing devicefor use in connection with toys, comprising,

other end, and means for rotating the said rod.

3. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising, in combination, a sparking-rod having at one enda chisel-like configuration, arranged co-axially with said rod oppositesaid at one end, a stationary the other end of said spring, the innerdiameter of the spring portion between said stationary member and theconnected end being larger than the outer diameter of the said rod, andmeans for rotating the rod, substantially as set forth.

4. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising, in combination, a sparking rod, a piece ofceriumiron arranged co-axially with said rod, means for pressing the rodagainst said piece of ceriuma pinion secured to the rod, a crown-wheelas to be able to mesh therewith intermittently, and means for rotatingsaid crown-Wheel.

5. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising, in combination, a sparking rod, a piece ofceriumiron arranged co-axially with said rod, means for pressing the rodagainst said piece of ceriumiron, a pinion secured to the rod, acrown-wheel having teeth only on a part of its circumference, and beingso arranged relatively to said pinion as to be able-to mesh therewithintermittently, another crown-wheel having likewise teeth only on a partof its circumference, running wheels supporting the device,motion-transmitting wheels between the latter crown-wheel and saidrunningwheeis, and means for operating the device by rotating said twocrown-wheels, substantially as set forth.

6.-A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising a rotatable abrasive member, a piece of stone incontact therewith, a pinion connected to the member, a mutilated gearmeshing with the pinion, a motor driving said gear, and an auxiliaryspring operatively connected to the member, the direction of winding ofthe auxiliary spring being such that the auxiliary spring is wound up ortightened during rotation of the member by the mutilated gear and isreleased and abruptly unwound when the mutilation in the gear reachesthe pinion, the normal forward movement of the member failing to producesparks, but the abrupt backward movement of the member upon release ofthe auxiliary spring causing a shower of sparks.

7. A periodically acting spark-producing delvice for use in connectionwith toys, comprising a sparking rod having an abrasive end, a piece ofstone, the abrasive end of the rod pressing against the stone, a pinionmounted on the rod, a mutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a motorfor driving said gear, and an auxiliary spring functionally connected tothe rod, the direction of winding of the auxiliary spring being suchthat the auxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation ofthe rod by the mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound whenthe mutilation in the gear reaches the pinion.

8. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys wherein sparks are to be produced at the end of a slenderelongated member, comprising a sparking rod having a chisel-shaped end,a piece of stone arranged coaxially with the rod, the chisel end of therod pressing against the stone, a pinion mounted on the rod, a mutilatedgear meshing with the pinion, a spring motor for driving said gear, andan auxiliary spring coiled about the rod and having one end stationarilymounted, with the other end connected to the rod, the direction ofwinding of the auxiliary spring being such that the auxiliary spring iswound up or tightened during rotation of the rod by the Inutilated gearand is released and abruptly unmutilation in the gear reaches thepinion, the smooth normal forward movement of the rod failing to producesparks, but

the abrupt backward movement of the rod upon .i

release of the auxiliary spring causing a shower of sparks.

. 9. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising a rotatable abrasive member, a piece of stone inContact therewith, a pinion mounted on the member, a mutilated geai`meshing with the pinion, a motor for driving said gear, and an auxiliaryspring coiled about a rod connected to the abrasive member, one end ofthe spring being stationarily mounted and the other end being connectedto the rod, the direction of winding of the auxiliary spring being suchthat the auxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation ofthe member by the mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwoundwhen the mutilation in the gear reaches thepinion, the coils of most ofthe auxiliary spring being larger in diameter than the rod but at leasta few coils at one end oi the spring being wrapped snugly about the rod,the said closely wrapped convolutions functioning as a self-tighteningfrictional connection between the spring and the rod.

10. A periodically acting spark-producing device for use in connectionwith toys, comprising a sparking rod having a chisel-shaped end, a

piece of stone arranged coaxially with the rod,

the chisel end oi the rod pressing against the stone, a pinion mountedon the rod, a mutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a spring motor fordriving said gear, and an auxiliary spring coiled about the rod andhaving one end stationarily mounted, with the other end connected to therod, the direction of Winding of the auxiliary spring being such thatthe auxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation of the rodby the mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound when themutilation in the gear reaches the pinion, the normal forward movementof the rod failing to produce sparks, A

but the abrupt backward movement of the rod upon release of theauxiliary spring causing a l shower of sparks, the coils oi most of theauxiliary spring being larger in diameter than the rod but at least afew coils at one end of the spring being wrapped snugly about the rod,the said closely wrapped convolutions functioning as a self-tighteningfrictional connection between the spring and the rod.

11. A periodically acting spark-producing andr traveling device for usein connection with toys, comprising an intermittent sparking mechanism,a motor for driving the same, traction wheels on which the device issupported and runs, a train of gearing connecting the aforesaid motor tothe traction wheels, means to make the traveling movement of the toyintermittent, said means and the spark-producing mechanism being sorelated to one another that the device dwells or ceases travelingmovement at the moment that the sparking mechanism produces a ash ofsparks.

12. A periodically acting spark-producing and traveling device 'for usein connection with toys, comprising a rotatable abrasive member, apiece60 of stone in. contact therewith, a pinion mounted on the member, amutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a motor for driving said gear,and an auxiliary spring operatively connected to the member, thedirection or winding of the auxiliary spring being such that theauxiliary spring is wound up o-r tightened during rotation of the memberby the mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound when themutilation in the gear reaches the pinion, traction wheels on which thedevice is supported and runs, a train of stepup gearing connecting theaforesaid motor to the traction wheels, a gear in said train beingmutilated to make the traveling movement of the toy intermittent, themutilation` of the said 75 gear and the mutilation of the aforesaid gearin the spark-producing mechanism being so related to one another thatthe device dwells or ceases traveling movement at the moment that thesparking mechanism produces a hash of sparks.

13. A periodically acting spark-producing and traveling device for usein connection with toys, comprising a sparking rod having an abrasiveend, a piece oi stone arranged coaxially with the rod, the abrasive endof the rod pressing against the stone, a. pinion mounted on the rod, amutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a motor for driving said gear,and an auxiliary spring coiled about the rod and having one endstationarily mounted, with the other end connected to the rod, thedirection of winding of the auxiliary spring being such that theauxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation of the rod bythe mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound when themutilation in the gear reaches the pinion, the smooth normal forwardmovement of the rod failing to produce sparks, but the abrupt backwardmovement of the rod upon release oi the auxiliary spring causing ashower of sparks, traction wheels on which the device is supported andruns, and a train` oi gearing connecting the aforesaid motor to thetraction wheels.

14. A periodically acting spark-producing and traveling device for usein connection with toys, comprising a sparking rod having an abrasiveend, a piece of stone arranged coaxially with the rod, the abrasive endof the rod pressing against the stone, a pinion mounted on the rod, amutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a spring motor for driving saidgear, and an auxiliary spring coiled about the rod and having one endstationarily mounted, with the other end connected to the rod, thedirection or winding of the auxiliary spring being such that theauxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation or the rod bythe mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound when themutilation in` the gear reaches the pinion, traction wheels on which thedevice is supported and runs, a train of step-up gearing connecting theaforesaid spring motor to the traction wheels, a gear in said trainbeing mutilated to make the traveling movement of the toy intermittent,the mutilation oi" the said gear and the mutilation, oi the aforesaidgear in the spark-producing mechanism being so related to one anotherthat the device dwells or ceases traveling movement at the moment thatthe sparkling mechanism produces a ash of sparks.

15. A periodically acting spark-producing and traveling device for usein connection` with toys, comprising a sparking rod having an abrasiveend, a piece of stone arranged coaxially with the rod, the abrasive endof the rod pressing against the stone, a pinion mounted on the rod, amutilated gear meshing with the pinion, a spring motor for driving saidgear, and an auxiliary spring coiled about the rod and having one endstationarily mounted, with the other end ccnnected to the rod, thedirection of winding of the auxiliary spring being such that theauxiliary spring is wound up or tightened during rotation of the rod bythe mutilated gear and is released and abruptly unwound when themutilation in the gear reaches the pinion, the coils of most of theauxiiiary spring being larger in` diameter than the rod but at least afew coils at one end of the spring being wrapped snugly about the rod,the said closely wrapped convolutions functioning as a self-tighteningfrictional connection between the spring and the rod, traction Wheels onwhich the device is supported and runs, a train of step-up gearingconnecting the aforesaid spring motor to the traction Wheels, a gear insaid train being mutilated to make the traveling movement of the toyintermittent, the mutilation of the said gear' and the mutilation of theaforesaid gear in the spark-producing mechanism being so related to oneanother that the device dwells or ceases traveling movement at themoment that the sparking mechanism produces a flash of sparks.

GEORG EINFALT,

